family of four

Here is a quick update; Brad goes back to work tomorrow :( and I need to get to bed....but I know we have some people waiting for a picture update. Braeden is doing wonderful, he is such a sweet and relaxed cuddle bug...but what newborn isn't? We had a dr appt today and he is 22 inches and 9lbs so he will almost be back to birth wait at 2 wks. He is still a little jaundice but it is getting better. He was sleeping really well but the last couple nights have been a little more rough but I think he is just working through a growth spurt.
Terrace is doing pretty well with the transition. She has a cold and cough so that has been rough. She enjoys being around Braeden and likes to help but is quite emotional and is really pushing her boundaries and pushing our buttons. We will see how things change with Brad back at work....
It has been AMAZING having Brad home; he has done soooo much around the house so I can relax and we have been busy enjoying the sun and running errands this week. I am feeling really well and have enjoyed getting out of the house with Brad's help. I have also been able to nap most days and have had a good amount of time to just enjoy holding Braeden! Thanks to all our friends for visiting!
We plan to make it out a couple times this week and Dottie will be up later in the week - YAY!

We were welcomed home...


Happy, tired family



first bath at home....he looks like such a chunk here :)




picnic and walk at Boulavard Park...it was almost 70 degree's that day


celebrating Braeden turning 1 wk old with a birthday song and candle in strawberry

family resting together and what I came out to find after my nap


photo shoot



while waiting for the doctor today...

Braeden John is here!

We are home and getting settled. Our first night home last night went well, but hoping to get more solid sleep tonight. Braeden is a noisy sleeper like Terrace was but he is soooo perfect! We are so in love with him! He is 8 lbs 8 oz now and does have some jaundice but we saw a nurse today who is not concerned since feedings are going so well. Terrace is doing wonderful wanting to help but not overly somethering which is nice.

here are some pictures...

I was able to hold him while they were finishing my C-section


Terrace and Brad look like twins here...


so cute and strong




Braeden and Terrace this morning...such a proud big sister!


My parents were here to watch Terrace and enjoyed some time with Braeden as well


cute picture from one of his many naps today


here is the hospital website picture but not sure if the website will work
http://www.newbabynews.net/hospitals/stj5/public/stj5birthannouncement.pl?babyID=h5-11938

short update

We are all doing well; my pain is lessening and baby is nursing really well. He was already down to 8 lbs 15 oz last night but no one is concerned, they say the bigger the baby the more they will lose early on. I have been up moving around today as well which is painful at first but once I am standing it is better. Brad is at home with my parents spending some time with TJ. She loves to visit us but has a hard time leaving without us. Brad and I are really enjoying this time to bond with Braden (sp still TBD). I am just soooo in love with this little man and Brad is as well. He looks different than yesterday as the swelling is going down, he still looks like Brad but more like me as well. Here are a couple cell ph pictures I had on my phone as I am too tired to upload the ones from our camera. enjoy!

sweet sleepy baby


seems to be a binki baby already...

Tax baby is here!

Braedan (spelling still unknown) John came into this world at 12:18 pm weighing 9 lbs 4 oz via c-section (10 days early...big baby). He looks so much like TJ did as a newborn but also alot more like Brad...he is mini Brad I think. Labor went really really well but he was stuck and I was exhausted! My epidural worked for most of the labor (yay) and I pushed for 3 hrs but he was stuck! We came in after 3 hrs of contractions at 5 minutes apart with a really low pain level until I was closer to 10 cm. The c-section went well but just took a little longer. He came out really well and so I was able to hold him right away after he was wrapped up. We have had GREAT nurses!

Terrace was soooo cute coming to see Braeden! She was only here a short period bc I had still not slept for the last 36 hrs. At this point I have only slept 2 hrs and will be catching up on sleep over the next couple days and weeks (hopefully). I am in a decent amount of pain even with pain medication but have been out of the bed once already. Thank you to Maria who was able to come up and stay at the house while we came into the hospital and my parents who are at home now with Terrace....we really appreciate it and everything has been so smooth. I am sure I am missing some good info but time for bed!

late update....

so my doc appt went well today and he stretched me to 3 cm. Maria is up and we went on a long walk in birch bay and then to Brad's first soccer game. I have had contractions since 3ish today starting at 10 min apart and they are now 5 min apart but they are short and not very strong. But as I write Maria is tracking and they are getting stronger and I guess I need to call the doctor. We may meet this little man tomorrow....tax day!

38 wks prego and lots going on....

Terrace and I had a great time at a birthday party at jungle playland (a large indoor play structure) yesterday and my body is not appreciating it today. Heading to bed last night my pelvis was in sooo much pain and it is now hard to walk. I thought I really did something wrong but after talking to the doctor today and some recently pregnant friends I am finding out this is common. My activity yesterday encouraged his head down further into my pelvis and I now OFFICIALLY UNCOMFORTABLE! I don't think I got this pelvis pain with TJ and it is NO FUN!

Other news: I am now at 2 cm and may (big maybe) be possibly showing early signs of preeclampsia. My BP was a little high and my proteins are up. I go back on Tuesday and the doctor will most likely scrape my cervix which may start labor. He encouraged me to stay active through the pain which is hard to avoid anyway with a 2 yr old. Baby is still posterior which I knew bc I can feel everyone movement he makes. My doctor did not say it right out but I think they are expecting this baby to be about the same size as TJ. He knows that I am nervous about a big baby that is posterior but talked to me alot about how I am still a great canidate for a VBAC and will hopefully avoid a c-section. Because I had a c-section the first time they will not induce me.

It is VERY exciting to think that he (yes we still need to secure a name and spelling) could be here next week or very soon but I am also feeling like we have a lot to get done. My hormones have taken over and I have a long list for Brad to help with. He has part of today off and tomorrow off and then he is working pretty much everyday until early June (besides the time off for the baby). Really, we are ready for baby to be here and I think after we get some stuff accomplished tomorrow I will feel ALOT better. excited and nervous all at the same time

My friend Maria is coming up next week to visit for a couple days and then my parents will be up next weekend to celebrate their birthdays...maybe sooner to take care of TJ if baby decides he is ready. I think that is all for now. Thank you to everyone for checking in on us and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

here is a picture from a couple weeks ago. Terrace really wants to be in "princess dresses" all the time so she can dance. She says we can't spin unless we have our dresses on. She was VERY excited when I pulled out my pregnancy bridesmaid dress from 2006. We had fun dancing around!